x
Breaking News
More () »

18-year-old woman killed while visiting gravesite in Sacramento cemetery

The woman was visiting a gravesite with friends when an unknown suspect(s) fired at them and ran away in a vehicle.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Editor's note: The story has been updated to report the shooting took place at the Sacramento Memorial Lawn Cemetery. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the Home of Peace Jewish Cemetery, which is located across the street. We apologize for this error.

Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a deadly shooting that happened at a Sacramento cemetery.

The sheriff's office said deputies were called out to the 5300 block of 47th Avenue after getting reports of a shooting. 

Arriving deputies found an 18-year-old woman shot at least once near Stockton Boulevard and El Paraiso Avenue, where Sacramento Memorial Lawn Cemetery is located. Despite attempts to save her life, authorities pronounced her dead at the scene.

Few details are available as the investigation continues, however, the sheriff's office said the woman was visiting a gravesite with friends when an unknown suspect(s) fired at them and ran away in a vehicle. No suspect information or motive is known at this time. 

Investigators believe the victim was not the intended target and say the incident could be a case of gang wars breaking out in broad daylight with an innocent bystander killed in the gunfire.

"Not that any homicide is not tragic and has it's own set of circumstances, but certainly when you think of an 18-year-old victim and may have not been the target of this heinous then we talk about something different all together," Sacramento County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sgt. Tess Deterding said.

The victim's family gathered outside the cemetery where she was shot Monday night. They were clearly grieving and praying. Her cousin told ABC10 the family wants to know exactly what happened. She also said the victim was a Sacramento State student and had only been in the Sacramento area for a year and is originally from the Richmond area.

Anyone with information on the shooting can call the sheriff's office at 916-874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-HELP.

READ ALSO: 

WATCH ALSO:

Inside the Sacramento Police Academy | The Recruits

Before You Leave, Check This Out